Adjustable body support



o. D. HARRIS ADJUSTABLE BODY SUPPORT Filed July 23, 1936 Patented Nov. 23, 1937 UNITED STATES 2,099,977 ADJUSTABLE BODY SUPPORT Owen D. Harris, Petersburg, Ind. Application July 23, 1936, SeriaL-No. 92.185

3 Claims.

The present invention relates to a body support, and more particularly to an adjustable body support especially adapted for use by funeral directors and the like for placing the 5 body in position for embalming.

One of the objects of the present invention is to provide a body support of this character, adapted to be adjustable in a novel manner, to the end that a body supported thereby may be 10 arranged in difierent positions for facilitating the embalming thereof.

A still further important object of the invention is to provide a novel means of effecting and controlling the adjustment of the support.

A still very important object of the invention will be found to reside in the simple construction, and operation of the device, and the low cost of manufacturing thereof.

In the accompanying drawing, wherein similar reference numerals designate corresponding parts throughout the same,

Figure 1 is a top plan view, partly in section, of the body support.

Figure 2 is a longitudinal vertical sectional view thereof, and

Figure 3 is a vertical sectional view of Figure 2 taken on line 33 thereof.

In the accompanying drawing, wherein for the purpose of illustration there is shown a 30 preferred embodiment of the invention, the reference numeral 4 generally designates the base of the support, which is constructed of rubber or any other resilient material, and as clearly illustrated in Figure 2, gradually tapers toward 35 the front end portion thereof. To the sides and ends of the base portion 4 there is formed integral therewith or secured thereto, as desired, a rubber top 6, which top, as shown, is in spaced relation with the bottom portion 4 defining an air cell 8. A longitudinally extending upstanding wall l divides the cell 8 into two compartments or cells [2 and M. 'It is to be observed in the inflated position of the cells l2 and 14 that the upper surface of the support inclines upwardly for a portion of its length and then merges into a flat shoulder supporting surface [6 having secured thereon pads I B and 20. The cells I2 and I4 are respectively inflated through the medium of the inlet valve 22 which may be of any construction and are deflated through the medium of the hand-controlled outlet valve 24.

It will thus be apparent that depending upon the deflation or inflation of the respective cells I2 and M, a body supported thereon may be positioned either in a substantially flat position, or

in an incline to the right or left position, thereby facilitating proper embalming or other operations on the body.

As clearly illustrated, to the rear and at substantially the central portion of the bottom 8 there is formed integral therewith an elongated neck cell 26, which neck cell or connector has formed integral therewith a head support generally designated by the reference numeral 28.

It is to be observed in passing that the neck cell 26 may be inflated through the medium of the inlet valve 30 and deflated by the outlet valve 32, thereby permitting of adjustment for different lengths of necks between the body supporting structure and the head supporting structure 28.

The head supporting structure generally designated by thereference numeral 28 is circular in shape, having a substantially solid rubber base portion 30 with a centrally disposed aperture 32 therein. As will be observed, if so desired, the lower portion of the base may be provided with substantially circular concave portions 34 therein. Formed integral, or, if so desired, secured to the upper surface of the base 30, is a substantially circular head rest having a frustoconical recess therein merging with the aperture 32 in the base. The wall forming the recess defines a substantially circular cell 36 which is divided into a plurality of cells through the medium of the upstanding integral vertical wall 30 38. It will thus be observed that through the medium of the inlet valve 40 and the outlet valve 42 communicating with the different cells, the same may be inflated or deflated at will to vary the relative position of the head.

From the foregoing description of the device, it will be readily apparent that there is provided a novel body supporting structure permitting of different positioning of the body thereon for facilitating the embalming thereof, or surgical operations. While there is shown for the purpose of illustration a preferred embodiment of the invention, it is to be understood that it is capable of various changes and modifications without departing from the spirit and scope 45 thereof, and it is intended, therefore, that only such limitations shall be imposed thereon as are indicated in the prior art or in the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

l. A body support of the class described comprising a shoulder and back supporting section including a pair of longitudinally extending cells, means for controlling the inflation and deflation of said cells individually, a connector secured to 55 said back supporting section, a cellular head rest secured to connector, and means for controlling the inflation and deflation of the head rest.

2. A body support of the class described comprising a shoulder and back supporting section having adjacently disposed longitudinally extending cells, means for individually inflating and deflating said cells, the upper surface of said shoulder and back supporting section inclining upwardly and merging into a flat surface adjacent one end thereof, shoulder supporting pads on each of said flat surfaces, a connector secured to said shoulder and back sup-porting section adjacent the shoulder supporting end, a head rest secured to said connector at the free end thereof and including a plurality of circularly arranged cells defining a frusto-conical recess merging into a centrally disposed aperture,

merging with the centrally disposed aperture in the base, and means for individually inflating and deflating certain of said cells of said head rest.

OWEN D. HARRIS. 

